CRUISE LOCATION – The route or loop is on Gratiot Avenue from 14 Mile Road north of Metropolitan Parkway to Wellington Crescent and back, through beautiful Clinton Township. Due to construction this year, cruisers will be directed to turn just south of Wellington Crescent on Harrington. Follow the signs and you will be just fine.

CRUISE TIME – Since 2003 the cruise has always been the first Sunday in August. This year it will be Sunday, August 7, 2011 from noon to 6 p.m.

PUBLIC WELCOME – This is a FREE public event for residents, friends, family and out-of-towners with or without classic vehicles. You may find a spot to drop a blanket or have lawn chairs for watching, park your classic in a business parking lot or at Cruise Headquarters as part of the Car Show, or join one of the many business events to start your day while mingling up and down Gratiot on foot to see all the sites.

CRUISE RULES – Have fun!!! When cruising please stay in the outside lanes. Be cautious of others and be safe. Be ready for any trouble with engines. Watch for brake lights not working and be ready.

CRUISE WEBSITE – The official Cruise Website – www.ctgratiotcruise.com Check it out today – see photos, download a Car Show registration form or contact the committee.

GRAND MARSHAL – This year’s Grand Marshal is being determined right now. We have a person in mind but we will take any suggestions. Send us a shout out if you have someone to recommend.

CAR SHOW – Cruise Headquarters has a public Car Show for $15 pre-registered and $20 on cruise day. Car Show parking opens at 8 a.m. cruise day and closes at 6 p.m. Preregistration is available online – www.ctgratiotcruise.com. Or contact Tracey Moro - 586-212-1673. There will also be Car Shows throughout Clinton Township all week prior to the cruise. Watch for more details as things get set in stone!

CRUISE MERCHANDISE – EA Graphics will have several large booths set up along the cruise selling cruise merchandise – including the new 2011 cruise t-shirt.

CRUISE PARADE – Each year the parade is the highlight of the cruise and starts the day out at noon. The parade begins with our Grand Marshal and the Clinton Township Fire Department and Police along with neighboring officers. Sponsors may bring a vehicle and join in and there may be a few dignitaries. Members of the Cruise Car Show follow along and the public can join in at the end. Then the fun begins! This year the parade will have the Honor Guard from American Legion along with their Forty et Eight Train. The parade will start from just south of Cruise Headquarters, loop around and come back to Cruise headquarters.

CRUISE PEDAL CARS – Bring your pedal car to Cruise Headquarters to be part of the pedal car cruise or to park it for the day. We make it a point to include pedal cars. The Moran Pedal Car Cruise is part of the Moran Kid Zone and begins the parade events so be at Cruise Headquarters early (10:30 a.m.) to find your car. Or better to bring your own so you know you will be part of the fun.

CRUISE HEADQUARTERS - Located at the hub at Cruise Headquarters will be in the Mount Clemens Regional parking lot on the southeast corner of Gratiot and Metropolitan Parkway. There will be WCSX broadcasting live from the corner along with the Moran Kid Zone and our stage with live entertainment. The Cruise Car Show will have parking and judging for classic vehicles.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT– Many local bands will be performing all day up and down the Gratiot corridor including Boomerangs, the Motor City Wranglers and Little Elvis at Cruise Headquarters on stage from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Also, at the Dorian Ford Midway enjoy 3 Ton Soul from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Little Elvis will also make an appearance.

PRE CRUISE CAR SHOWS/PASSPORT - Starting July 5 there will be Pre-Cruise car shows throughout the month promoting the Clinton Township Gratiot Cruise. Each location is having their own show with the Cruise Committee joining in. We will have goodies for each classic car and we will be passing out our CRUISE PASSPORT on 7/11 to get stamped at each event after. Bonus points will be given to those who attend early shows. The folks who go to more than eight of these car shows will be eligible for some great prizes. Car Shows will be at Sonic Clinton Twp - 7/5, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26; Sonic Shelby Township 7/6, 7/13, 7/20, 7/27; Sonic Sterling Heights 7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 8/1; D’s Fresh n Hot Pizza 7/24; Italian Cultural Center 8/2; Cheli’s Chili Bar 8/3; Concorde Inn 8/4; Dawg House 8/5. Shows start at 4 p.m. except on 7/24 at D’s the show will be from noon to 6 p.m.

CRUISE SPONSORS – Sponsors are just the best!! Several businesses in Clinton Township have decided to donate and become a Cruise Sponsor. Sponsorships cover the cost for all you see all day long, along with the pre-planning - including promotions, entertainment, children’s activities, merchandise, prizes, etc. You can see sponsors listed on the cruise website – www.ctgratiotcruise.com and many will have official 2011 Sponsor posters posted in their businesses. Say thanks to a sponsor.

DORIAN FORD MIDWAY - This is the first year for the official Dorian Ford Midway to exist - at Lowe’s Parking lot north of 15 Mile on Gratiot Avenue. Dorian Ford supports their community like no other. The generosity of their sponsorship is allowing for the Gratiot Cruise to create a second main hub area that will focus on the wonderful service groups of our community. The Dorian Ford Midway will host booths from Clinton Township Senior Center, Clinton Township Optimist Club, Clinton Township Goodfellows, Clinton Valley Lions Club, and the Clinton Township Kiwani’s. These service groups will be joined by business booths from Bo-Rics, the Chrysler Museum, D’s Fresh n Hot Pizza, Hippo’s Hot Dogs, Kona Ice, Macomb Daily, WADL, and WCSX. These groups and businesses will bring out moon walks, face painters, games and more. The Dorian Ford Midway will also host the KIDS SAFE NETWORK. The KIDS Safe Network works with the Police Activity Search Technology, allowing parents to register their children by using the child’s picture, medical information, finger prints, DNA sample, medical and dental profiles and entering them into a nationwide police data base. It turns the time to report a missing child all over the state from hours to minutes with pictures included. Another cruise special including the Clinton Township Police Department is their partnership with Mount Clemen’s Regional Hospital and the Gratiot DDA. Together they will be sizing bike helmets to the first 500 kids for free.

PAT MORAN KID ZONE - This year Pat Moran came through with a very generous sponsorship to make sure that the Kid Zone at Cruise Headquarters is bigger and better than ever. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. the Moran Chevrolet KID ZONE children can enjoy a 68 foot inflatable obstacle course, a 21 foot slide, and two moon walks. They can paint a real car, do cardboard and Kazoo race car crafts, boxcar racers, safety town, face paint and more. The Moran Pedal Car Cruise will take place at 11:15 a.m. - bring your camera.

CRUISE ACCOMMODATIONS - If you're traveling from out of town to enjoy Clinton Township Gratiot Cruise festivities you may want to consider staying overnight. We recommend two Clinton Townshihp hotels in the local area - on Gratiot of course. The Concorde Inn is located on Gratiot just south of Hall Road. You may want to mention the cruise for special rates call 586.493.7300. There's also the new Hampton Inn right on Gratiot in the heart of the cruise strip south of 15 Mile. You don't even have to be from out of town - you could just stay there to have a front row seat! Special cruise rates apply call 586.791.1300.

Contact Tracey Moro 586-212-1673 for more information.